Battle of the abs! The Situation gets some competition on and off the dance floor from a shirtless Derek Hough

Usually when it comes to a battle of the abs, Jersey Shore star The Situation wins hands down.

But it looks like he's going to be getting a run for his money on Dancing With The Stars as Derek Hough flashed his own enviable taut tummy and smooth defined chest as he exited rehearsals in Los Angeles yesterday.

The hit show's contestants were getting in a little last minute rehearsing ahead of the big premier tonight on ABC.

Who knew: Derek Hough revealed his amazing shape as he left dance rehearsals yesterday in Los Angeles

Hough, who is paired with Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey will be going head to head with Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino and his partner, Cheryl Burke.

Let's hope that The Situation wasn't listening to Ryan Seacrest's KIIS FM breakfast show this morning, as Hough gave away all his secrets to how he stays in shape and keeps fit.

Hough said he eats six or seven means a day and gets his food delivered in the proper portions from a dietary meal company.

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The energetic 25-year-old admitted that he didn't always enjoy food but that has changed. 'My new thing is enjoying eating this year,' he said. 'I am savouring every morsel.'

Hough, who will be dancing The Venus Waltz with Grey on the show's premiere tonight, said that if he didn't eat, he would 'literally' wither away.

Battle of the abs: Hough's dance competitor Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino likes to think he's the King of the abs

'Sometimes you forget to eat, and it's not from the physical aspect, it's more because of the stress. Your mind is so busy thinking about every move.'

And the results can be seen as Hough, sans shirt, shows his taunt and toned abs outside the studio.

Hough, who has been romantically linked to Cheryl Cole, probably has had little time to concentrate on romance since rehearsals began.

Take your partner: Derek Hough and Jennifer Grey will be dancing the Venus Waltz on tonight's premier of Dancing With The Stars

'We don't get one day off,' he said of the gruelling schedule. 'People think we rehearse Monday through Friday. It's seven days a week, 15 weeks straight. It's a marathon.'

Joining the dancer in this 'marathon' is Grey, 50, who says she envies Hough's talent.

'He's a genius dancer. He's like a white Michael Jackson.' she said.

'I hate him and then I love his talent,' she joked.

Grey, has had to be tough, having overcome a car accident in 1987 and a brush with cancer this year. A lump was found in Grey's neck when she went to get a physical before joining the show.

Fortunately, the lump was surgically removed and she did not need chemotherapy according to the actress.

Optomistic: The Situation's dancing partner Karina Smirnoff thinks the pair have more than a fair chance of winning the competition, claiming: 'If there's anyone I can win with it's going to be Mike'

'You realize that all you do is little steps to go through anything. I think when you chuck it up like that, anything is doable,' she told Seacrest this morning.

In addition, Grey sentimentally remembered the late Patrick Swayze as it was the anniversary of his death last week.

'Patrick is the only person I have ever danced with besides of Derek, ' she said.

Star studded: The season 11 premier of Dancing With The Stars promises to be one of the best yet with an eclectic line up of stars from past to present

Grey also revealed that she recently received an email from Swayze's widow, Lisa Niemi: 'She sent me an email last week saying that she's rooting for me and thinking about me,' Grey said. 'I was very moved by that and very happy that she sent that to me.'

Grey also confessed that her return to dancing has brought Swayze into the forefront of her mind 'I feel his presence right now, very strongly right now.

'This week,
especially, because of the anniversary of his death last week and
because of the song we're dancing to this week and because of dancing
with Derek and doing this kind of dancing at all.'

Dancing With The Star premiers tonight on ABC at 8/7 central.

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Dancing With The Stars: The Situation gets some competition from Derek Hough